Page 98 of Edge

“Or it could be that no one has wanted to open a restaurant in that location,” Byte added.

Irene narrowed her eyes. “If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.”

Byte chuckled. “Usually, but not always.”

I reached over and gently squeezed Irene’s hand under the table. “I have to agree with him.” She was too good to be true, and we all knew it.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to send the agent a message,” she said.

“If you want to go look at it first, I can drive you over after dinner,” Gabby offered.

“That’s not a bad idea,” I said. “It might look completely different in person. And it’ll give you a better idea of where it is.”

“Yeah, I think I’d like to see it,” Irene said. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

Gabby smiled. “Of course not. We can go whenever you’re ready.”

“Do you mind if I tag along?” I asked. “I’d like to see it too.”

“We can all go,” Edge said. “Road trip!”

After dinner, Gabby, Byte, Irene, Edge, and me slowly, and somewhat painfully, piled into Gabby’s SUV and rode downtown to look at the property. Gabby pulled into the parking lot and circled the building before she came to a stop near the front door.

“Do you want to get out and peek in the windows?” Byte asked.

Irene laughed. “It’d take over thirty minutes just for us to get out and get back in. I’ve seen enough to know that messaging the agent and making an appointment to see inside is worth it. Thank you, Gabby.”

A few days later,Dice drove us to meet the real estate agent at the restaurant.

“I never thought I’d say this, but I could get used to being chauffeured around,” Irene said.

“Me, too,” I laughed. “I’ve never been a huge fan of driving. I’d happily become a passenger princess for life.”

“Once I get my driving privileges back, that can be arranged,” Edge said.

“Don’t make promises you don’t want to keep,” I teased.

“I’m not,” he said.

“We’re here,” Dice announced.

“Are we early?” Irene asked. “It doesn’t look like anyone else is here.”

As soon as the words came out of her mouth, another car pulled into the parking lot. The woman stepped out of her vehicle and smoothed her outfit before she straightened and started walking toward us. Dice got out to greet her while the rest of us unloaded.

“You’ll have to excuse us,” Irene said. “We’re recovering from a recent accident, so we’re moving a little slower than usual. I’m Irene Dawson.”

“Hi, Irene. I’m Daphne Clark,” she said and extended her hand to Irene.

“These are my kids, Byte and Evie. This is Evie’s boyfriend, Edge. And this is their friend, Dice.”

“It’s nice to meet you all,” Daphne said nervously and shook hands with each one of us.

Irene gave her an appraising look. “You must be new around here.”

Daphne looked surprised by her observation. “Yes, I am. What did I do to give myself away?”

“You look scared of the boys. The Blackwings are the good guys in town.”